St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-01
THE CARTOONS POWER
Illustrated by a Pleasing Lecture on
the Subject.
A TALK BY THOMAS MAST
How He Became the Pioneer Carica-
turist---His Early
Career.

No artist of modern days is more
widely known, and, in certain circles,
more feared and respected, than the
man whose name at the corner of the
cartoons of Harper's Weekly is so famh.
iar-"Th: Mast" Through the pages OF
that journal he struck terror to the
hearts of evil-dOers of New York and
was standing menace to the schemlng
politicians of the nation. His power was
not limited even by the lines of this
country, for it was by means OF one OF
his cartoons that Boss Tweed was
recognized in Spain. In national cam
paigns the Democracy felt the influence
of his pencil far more than the editorial
of the most powerful journal, and he
publicans learned its potency When us
guns were turned upon them In the
campaign which closed with the elec-
ton of Grover Cleveland. His power
was somewhat weakened when the rise
of such papers as Puck developed rivals
of no mean pretentiOns, but Thomas
Mast stands out as the pioneer
caricaturist of America, his work carry
ing keen and classic point never SINCE
euualed. His value to Harper's Weekly
was inestimable, but was represented III
dollars and cents by an annual salary
placed at all the way from S25,OO0 10
$4,000. He has long ago amassed a
competence, but is now adding TO ms
store by means of a lecture tour, in the
course of which he reached Mlnneapo-
lis Yesterday, His well-known auto
graph on the register OF the
West hotel was an opJecI
of general curiosity, anu
people were not long in discovering the
owner in fine-looking man OF rather
under the medium height, broad,shoul-
dered and erect. A pointed beard, care
fully brushed, and a luXurloHt mus
tache and slightly foreign accent, are
his chief characteristics. Unlike MS
cartoons Of himself, he has handsome
face, but the nose is unmistakable. True
to his art, he has overdrawn his proml-
nent feature. and the result is like
ness not to be mistaken.
Mr.. Mast lectured last night, at the
Hennepin Avenue theater, De1ore
large and cultured audience. He is not
much of a talker, but language is I'M
necessary in the presence of his speak
ing art. He did more: He painted;
using brush, he made several rapid
strokes and turned out familiar puDllc
face that was recognized on the instant.
He explained that caricature mea MT to
overload, or that in caricature 1t
was the overdrawing that car
ried the point. In Puck, Tor
instance, where nature gave a nose 10
Blaine, or to Pulitzer, the cartoonlst
gave a proboscis. Mr.. Mast conceived
his idea of comic portrayal through hay.
ing seen Mr.. Burton play "Io0dles,"
and to illustrate, he painted the re-
nOwned Toodles in style that brought
down the house.
Though he did not say so, the story OF
Nast's beginning is an interesting one.
AS boy, he presented himself to Frank
Leslie. for employment as an artist. 10
get rid of him, Leslie said:
..Well. go and draw the Fulton ferry
boat lust as it leaves the landing"
The difficult subject of that boat,
crowded with humanity, may be i'm
agined. but nothing daunted, Mast Went
out ana returned with a sketch which
brought him instant employment. Soon
after he went to the HarperS. where he
has since remained. He furnishes uSu-
uaIly a cartoon and four or i've
sketches, but uses his own ideas en-
tirely.
His lecture was a pleasing DISGUISE
ton on his art, freely illustrated with
his brush. His ideal had been to paint
great historical pictures, and he gave
humorous example. Then, with the
same canvass, he painted away, appa-
rently at random, but on turning the
picture a beautiful view of Niagara was
disclosed. A moonlight scene was fol
lowed by several striking cartoops, in
Guiding the famous Tweed, and the lee
ture concluded with sketch of the
caricaturist himself. 1t was thoroughly
enjoyable, and it will be with pleasure
that the announcement will be read that
he will repeat it on Sunday evening.